This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

September 25, 2013

USDA Awards $5 Million for Smart Grid

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on September 12 announced more than $136 million in loan guarantees to build more than 2,200 miles of electric transmission line, incluuding more than $5 million in smart grid projects and nearly $3 million to improve electric service for Native Americans. The loan guarantees are made available through the USDA Rural Development program.

For example, in Minnesota, Rural Development will finance nearly $16 million in loan guarantees to build more than 200 miles of electricity transmission line and finance more than $1.7 million in smart grid technologies for two projects. And Wyoming's High Plains Power will use nearly $1.4 million of its loan for smart grid projects and $2.4 million for service to Native Americans. See the USDA press release.